Transcript Learning About Weather

Learning About Weather
How Weather Impacts Your Lives
Learning About Weather
 How to identify Clouds
 How to read weather maps
 How to prepare for Severe Weather
A Little About Me
 Greg Morgan – Chief Meteorologist
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Morning & Midday Weather / Station Scientist
Storm Chasing – Extreme Meteorologist
Attended Midland High & Mississippi State University – Geosciences
Hold the National Weather Association Seal of Approval
Learning About Weather
It’ Video Time!
Watch CBS 7!
Who Watches Us?
Who Watches Us?
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Over 51,000 sq. miles
25 counties
23 in West Texas / 2 in SE. New Mexico
The area is larger than 23 States
Brewster is the largest County (6,193 sq. mi.)
Guadalupe Peak ( 8,751’ above sea level ) is the
highest point in Texas.
 Loving County is the largest, least populated
county in the United States.
Who Watches Us?
Who Watches Us?
We Have Big Storms!
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Saragosa tornado
1987
Population: 183
Injuries: 121
Deaths: 30
(F-4)
Fujita Scale
We Have Other Threats…
Lightning
Flash Floods
What We Do For You
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We Forecast the Weather.
We Report on the impacts of the weather.
We Conduct damage surveys.
We Issue Watches & Warnings.
We educate!
So Let’s Educate…
 The first thing you do is….
Watch CBS 7!
Educate Yourself
Learn to recognize weather patterns & how
they impact your life.
Clouds
There are many Types of clouds.
Clouds
 Cirrus
 Stratus
 Cumulus
How Clouds Form
Types of Clouds
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Cirrus Clouds
High Clouds
Thin (wispy looking)
Often signal a large
Storm system 1-2
days in advance.
Types of Clouds
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Stratus Clouds
Mid-level Clouds
Thick deck of clouds
Common in Winter
Often signal a
change in temp.
Types of Clouds
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Cumulus Clouds
Vertically Developed
Lumpy (Cauliflower)
Common in Spring
Produce T-Storms
Watch CBS 7!
Understanding Weather Maps
Understanding Weather Maps
Watch CBS 7!
Understanding Weather Maps
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High Pressure
Blue H
Sinking Air
Warmer Temps
Sunny Skies
“Happy Weather”
Understanding Weather Maps
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Low Pressure
Red L
Rising Air
Stormy Weather
Windy Weather
“Lousy Weather”
Understanding Weather Maps
Understanding Weather Maps
Fronts
Cold Fronts
Warm Fronts
Dry Line
Fronts
Cold Fronts
Warm Fronts
Fronts
Cold Fronts
Warm Fronts
Fronts
Dry Line
Fronts
Dry Line
Fronts
Dry Line
Fronts
Dry Line
Fronts
Dry Line
Now For The Important
Part!!!
Now For The Important
Part!!!
Severe Weather
Safety
Prepare For Anything
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Make a plan of action
Practice that plan
Involve your Family & Friends
Know what to do incase of a fire or weather
related emergency
Step 1
Know where you are!
Polygon Warnings
There have been a few changes.
Know When To Take Action
 Learn the difference between Watches &
Warnings.
Know When To Take Action
 Severe T-Storm Watch
 Issued by SPC
 Conditions are favorable
For Large Hail & High
Winds.
GET READY!
Know When To Take Action
 Tornado Watch
 Issued by SPC
 Conditions are favorable
For Large Hail, High
Winds & Tornadoes.
GET READY!
Know When To Take Action
 Warnings (Tornado, Severe T-Storm, Etc.)
 Issued by NWS
 A Threat to Life &
Property is Likely
Take Cover Now!
How Do We Know?
 We use Radar & Satellite Data
 Ground Reports
 Conceptual Model
If a warning is
Issued… We Mean
It!
What You Need?
Your Safety Kit
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Water (1gal for each person in your house)
Non-Perishable Foods
Battery Powered Radio and Flashlights
First Aid Kit
Medications
Diapers!!!
Where Do You Go?
 At School or in an Office
 Follow Instructions
Where Do You Go?
 Go To The Lowest Floor
 If You are upstairs… Get Downstairs!
Where Do You Go?
 Stay Away From Windows
Where Do You Go?
 Get Underground (If Possible)
 Go To The Center Of Your Home
 Put multiple walls between you & the storm
Where Do You Go?
 Cover Yourself With a Mattress or Blanket
Where Do You Go?
 Avoid Mobile Homes & Cars!
Where Do You Go?
 Avoid Large Buildings!
Where Do You Go?
 Do Not Seek Shelter Under Overpasses!
Where Do You Go?
 Do Not Seek Shelter Under Overpasses!
Where Do You Go?
 Do Not Seek Shelter Under Overpasses!
Severe Weather Safety
Tornadoes
 Tornadoes are dangerous!
 Not every tornado is the
same & they can
sometimes do strange
things.
Lightning
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Lightning is Dangerous!
Heats the air up to 50,000 degrees.
One Hundred Million Volts
25 million strikes each year
Lightning Kills more people
each year than tornadoes.
Lightning Safety
 30/30 Rule
 If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by
Lightning!
Go
Indoors!
Lightning Safety
 Talk on the phone
 Take Showers
 Use electronics
Wait 30
Minutes
Lightning Safety
 Lightning will travel through pipes or wires!
Lightning Safety
 Avoid Water or High Ground
 Avoid Tall objects
 Get in a car
Flash Floods
 Number 1 Weather Related Killer
 176 Deaths
Flash Floods
 For every foot of running water, 1,500 lbs. of
force is applied.
 2 feet or running water will move most cars
& trucks.
Flash Floods
 Dangerous Chemicals and other objects
might be in
the water!
Flash Floods
 Your decision to enter flood waters doesn’t
just impact you.
 Who will save me if I can’t get out?
“Buzz” Anderson
“Buzz” Anderson
Father of Four Children
Volunteer Fireman